Toggle actuated c-clamp



April 12, 1949. c. J. DOWNS 2,466,937 7 TOGGLE ACTUATED C-CLAMP Filed June 7, 1945 Inventor ('wrzz's Jlowwa Attorney Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOGGLE ACTUATED C-CLAMP Curtis .1. Downs, Paris, Tex. Application June 7, 1945, Serial No. 597,974

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a clamp, and more particularly to such a clamp adapted to hold work to be operated upon.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved clamp characterized by extreme simplicity of construction and adapted to be clamped and unclamped by the closure and separation of two normally aligned handle members.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily adjusted to accommodate a variety of sizes of work.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of such a device provided with an over-center snap locking means, whereby when the clamp is closed, the same will remain securely locked on the work.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of device embodying the instant invention shown in closed position, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in a difierent position of adjustment, and certain portions thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a topplan view of certain elements of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In the drawing there is generally indicated at ID a member including an extending handle II at right angles to which extends a projection l2 provided with a threaded collar l3. A screw member l4 engages the collar l3 and terminates in a head l5 forming one of the clamping members of the device. The opposite end of the handle ll terminates in a flanged portion [6 provided at its extremity with an aperture through which I passes a pivot pin 11, the pin I! also passing through aligned apertures in the bifurcated extremity l8 formed at right angles to the body IQ of a second clamping member including a clamping head 20. Additional aligned apertures through the bifurcated portion [8 accommodate a pivot 2| which engages an extending flange 22 of a second handle member 23.

The handle member 23 is provided with a projection 24 to which are lpivotally secured, as by a pivot 25, aligned locking links 26, the opposite ends of which are secured, as by a pivot 21, to a projecting portion 28 of the member I 0.

As best shown in Figure 3, transverse ridges 29 are positioned adjacent the pivot pin 21 and adapted to abut the arcuate extremities of the links 26.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The screw l4 may be adjusted to position the head thereof [5 at any desired distance from the opposite head 20 to accommodate any desired size of work within the range of sizes adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the device, and the parts moved to the position shown in Figure 2, the member 19 moving about the pivot I l to separate the heads 20 and I5. When the handle 23 is moved toward the handle I I, to the position shown in Figure 1, the head 20 assumes a position in clamping relation about the work opposite the head l5, and the closing operation is continued until the links 26 pass dead center, whereupon they move with a relatively snap action to aiiord a lock between the operating handles 23 and I1, holding the work securely between the relatively locked heads I5 and 20. Obviously, when it is desired to release the work, the handle 23 may be moved back to the position shown in Figure 2, and the relative lifting of the pin 25 causes the links 26 to pass dead center position, and release the clamp with relative ease.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved clamp accomplishing all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A clamp comprising a substantially L-shaped frame, an internally screw threaded sleeve at the end of one leg of the frame, said sleeve lying along 3 an axis substantially parallel with the other leg of the frame, a handle on the frame lying in substantial alignment with the second mentioned leg of the frame, a spindle mounted in the sleeve for longitudinal adjustment therethrough, a clamp pad at the end of the spindle remote from the handle, an L-shaped movable jaw pivoted to the end of the second mentioned leg of the frame to exert clamping force against the end of the spindle, a clamp pad on the movable jaw adapted when the clamp is in work holding position to align with the pad on the spindle, a handle piv oted to the movable jaw in spaced relation to its pivoted connection with the frame, a link pivoted to the handle near its pivoted connection with the movable jaw and a pivot connecting the link REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,910,833 Hippey May 23, 1933 2,280,380 Davenport Apr. 21, 1942 2,312,947 Westman Mar. 2, 1943 2,327,368 Olson Aug. 24, 1943 2,362,707 Malmquist Nov. 14, 1944 2,374,899 Sasgen May 1, 1945 

